As a child, I loved to browse the shelves of my local bookstores and libraries. While I appreciate how the general shelves are categorized by genre (having grown into my reading preferences), having all the children’s genres on the same shelves broadened my perspective and taught me much about what the written word has to offer.
In my early years, I devoured books that featured animals, magic, and / or adventure. Growing up in a house filled with pets, I wanted to be a veterinarian so badly that it took me over a decade to acknowledge that my academic interests did not point towards a medical career and that it’d be better to contain my love for animals to my personal life.
In middle school, Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce instilled within me an undying love for the fantasy genre. When asked to write about my favorite place in the 6th grade, I wrote about a window leading me to an imaginative kingdom where I interacted with fictional characters before returning back to my room. (I must have been influenced by The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!) I also went through a historical fiction phase (especially books with antiquated / medieval settings), and then a Barnes and Noble classics phase.
In high school, I rediscovered the young adult genre while browsing the Barnes and Noble website. In particular, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and Nightshade by Andrea Cremer drew me into the paranormal romance genre, which was trending at the time. Two years later, Divergent kickstarted the dystopian trend. Though I enjoyed the imaginative visions of the feature that these books provide, I didn’t fall in love with the genre as I did with fantasy sub-genres such as paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
While all of the genres have something to love, and I enjoy breaking from my comfort genre from time to time, fantasy has always drawn me for its imaginative elements and how it inspires me to envision new possibilities. I’ve enjoyed creating new worlds since I was a child playing with stuffed animals or writing poems and short stories for grade-school assignments.
Fantasy is where I feel at home, from then until now.
Some of My Favorite Childhood Reads
(from my first decade of life)
All Things Animal
- Animal Ark series by Ben M. Balgio (the series that made me want to be a veterinarian)
- The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley
- Cages by Peg Pehret
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
- Misty of Chiconteague series by Marguerite Henry
- My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
- Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
- Riding Freedom by Pam Muรฑoz Ryan
- Stealing Thunder by Mary Casanova
- Where the Red Ferns Grow by Wilson Rawls
Magical Tales and Adventures
- Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
- Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon
- Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
- Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osbourne
- Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene
- Roald Dahl‘s books
- Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley
- Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
Chat With Me
What were some of your favorite childhood reads? Is there a pattern to the books you read as a child?
This post is linked to the July Discussion Challenge at Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Top Ten Tuesday at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Vlora says
Tamora Pierce is great! I’ve been meaning to reread her Wild Magic series. As a child and young adult, I loved anything fantasy, young adult and science fiction. Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, the City of Bones books, Eragon, and Twilight were some of my favorites I remember from back then, but I generally read a lot and widely. Later, I also fell in love with urban fantasy, mostly the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and Richelle Mead’s adult books. Then there was a time where I grew bored with most books and felt like everything I read was like something else I’d read before. Eventually I found my groove again, explored new genres and authors and now I read fairly widely. I still love fantasy, though I’m not reading a lot of high fantasy, because I feel like I need to take the time to dive into the world, and I don’t always have the headspace while working. I read some classics, fiction, women’s lit, some soft scifi, YA, and I even expanded to non-fiction (though those books take me ages, no matter how interesting I find them). I guess the thing that changed most about my reading habits, is that I read more standalones than series, and that I’m less likely to delve into rich worlds, when I don’t have that much time to focus on them. I’d still say my interests are fairly similar though in terms of genres and subjects!
Crystal says
I love Tamora Pierce’s works! Wild Magic is fantastic. I hope you enjoy it! Wow, you read a lot of different genres, Vlora! I totally understand reading more standalones and books with less complex world building, like high fantasy, when you don’t have the time to focus on them. I keep some lighter reads around for those times.
Cam @ Camillea Reads says
This is such an interesting thought! I grew up reading classic books, and adventure books (pretty much anything by Enid Blyton!). Though I still continue to read the older classics, my taste for adventure reads has evolved to psychological thrillers. Fantasy is a recent genre I’ve delved into but I suppose, considering how I read a lot of fairytales, and Enid Blyton’s fairy books, I think my childhood reads did affect my reading tastes.
Crystal says
It’s neat how your interest in adventure books has evolved into psychological thrillers. Thanks for sharing, Cam! ๐
ShootingStarsMag says
Interesting topic! I feel like I read less YA contemporary than I did growing up and I read WAY more thrillers/mysteries these days. However, I still have a pretty similar love of certain genres and books.
-Lauren
Crystal says
I’ve been seeing a lot of good mysteries/thrillers around the blogosphere this summer. It makes me want to start reading more of them ๐
Catherine@basedonthebook says
I loved Spindle’s End! Might have to dig that out for a re-read. I read so much fantasy as a kid but somehow I never really graduated to adult fantasy. I’m not sure why.
Crystal says
So glad to hear that, Catherine! I loved several of the Robin McKinley’s books when I was growing up. General fantasy books are pretty different from YA fantasies. I know people who still love YA fantasies but aren’t as into general fantasies.
Wendy @ Falconer's Library says
Interesting question! I’m another one who grew up in the era where there were kids’ books and adult books, and nothing called YA. I read pretty much everything as a kid–mystery, fantasy, contemporary, classics, sci fi, even romance and westerns, which I don’t seek out now. So I went from Nancy Drew and the Three Investigators to Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton to Tana French and Sophie Hannah. For fantasy, I still usually prefer YA to “adult” fantasy, and sadly, I don’t read many classics any more, although I do read more nonfiction than I did as a kid.
Crystal says
It’s cool how you read so broadly as a kid. I’m the same with classics. While I hold some childhood favorites close to my heart, I don’t enjoy reading them as much anymore. I also read more nonfiction now.
Dani @ Perspective of a Writer says
My mom made my siblings and I readers from a young age but as I was entered YA age I wasn’t really feeling much love toward reading. I’d read a book and want more like it but there wasn’t much! I’m not sure if it was the schools that I was in growing up or what. But just as I aged out of YA I fell in love with them hahaha. I guess that’s why so many adult readers love YA. โค๏ธ
Crystal says
There’re definitely a lot more YA options available now! I love it, though it’s also intimidating because I know I can’t read all the books on the library shelves anymore. (When I was growing up, I would work my way from one end of the library to the other, then comb back through for any books I might have missed.) It’s cool how you rediscovered YA just as you were “aging” out of it. I think one reason so many adults love YA is because we can relate to the life experiences, and it’s easier to be less judgmental of the characters once we’ve matured enough to be able to look back with a more open mind. I also love the coming-of-age themes and themes of hope, which is too often missing in “adult” books.
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight says
So funny enough, very much no! I read almost exclusively contemporary as a kid- a lot of fluffy, lighter fare. Which I generally won’t touch with a 10-foot pole today! In fact, even as recently as a decade ago, I was *sure* I hated anything fantasy or sci-fi. Well, a friend introduced me to the Sookie Stackhouse series, and I read it because I was super bored one day and… wouldn’t you know, I liked it! And then, about a year later, a friend begged me to read The Hunger Games, and the rest is obviously history!
Crystal says
That’s so interesting to hear, Shannon! I definitely read a lot more contemporary / realistic books growing up, but fantasy has always had a place in my heart. I’m happy to hear that your friends introduced you to fantasy/sci-fi ๐
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
My daughter read SO many of those Animal Ark books—she loved them. She still owns all of them. I love that the books inspired you to want to be a veterinarian. ๐
Crystal says
That’s cool to hear, Nicole! I love that the books continue to be enjoyed by another generation ๐
Lindsi says
I really don’t remember much about what I read as a kid. Reading wasn’t a priority in our house, and I don’t think I ever had a library card. My parents aren’t big readers, so they didn’t encourage us to do it either, so I’m thankful I discovered the wonders of books on my own. Needless to say, my children and I go to the library once a week, and sometime more. ๐
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ๐ฌ
Crystal says
My parents are first generation immigrants. My mom encouraged my brother and me to read since her English wasn’t good, and she wanted us to learn through books. As soon as I was able to read, she had me read picture books to her, and she would research good books to introduce to me. She’s not a big reader, but I’m thankful that she opened the world of books to me. It’s cool how you and your children visit the library together, and you can share your love of books with them ๐
Aleen @ Lampshade Reader says
I do believe my childhood reads definitely influence me today. I loved reading Goosebumps and Fear Street. Also, mystery/romantic/suspense like Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt. I still love to read thrillers and romantic suspense. Great topic.
Crystal says
I loved Goosebumps as a child too, though many of them spooked me! I’ve heard great things about the Fear Street books; I recently purchased a few to read on a friend’s recommendation.
RS says
Wow do I love your animal list; I’ve enjoyed almost everything on it (not the last one. Too many other good dog books of the 20th century. Like everything by Jim Kjelgaard).
I was totally traumatized by Cages, but it’s cool to see someone else who’s read it! The Misty books are still some of my favorite books of all time, and Stealing Thunder was one of my faves in middle school too. I haven’t read that particular PMR book but I did love Paint The Wind. And I can’t believe I forgot the Animal Ark series existed!
Crystal says
It’s great to meet another reader who loved animal stories growing up! I agree that there are a lot of good dog books of the 20th century. I’ve read and enjoyed some of Jim Kjelgaard’s work. If I’d discovered more of his works in the bookstore as a child, I definitely would have asked my mom to buy them.
For some reason, I liked a lot of sad animal stories as a child (as well as the happy ones, of course). Maybe because the sad stories opened me to the bad things happening out there; maybe because I spent a lot of time wishing the ending was different. Cages definitely made me grateful for my dog and for parents who love animals.
I’ll have to check out PMR’s Paint the Wind and Jim Kjelgaard’s other works!
Natalie Aguirre says
I am a lot older than you, and we didn’t have YA back then. After reading tons of kids books, I moved directly to adult books in late junior high. My reading is way different now.
Crystal says
It’s interesting how YA is such a recent phenomenon! I love the book market has expanded to be more inclusive of growing readers. Thanks for sharing, Natalie ๐
Chrissi Reads says
Excellent list. I really enjoyed reading your post. ๐
Crystal says
Thanks, Chrissi ๐
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight says
That’s cool that your childhood reads do reflect your tastes now. I think my reading was more varied as a kid and teen than it is now. As a kid, I know I liked the Babysitter’s Club books and those Animal Ark books, I liked animals too lol. In middle and high school, I did enjoy SFF, but I also read a lot of contemporary and chick lit. It’s interesting to think about how our tastes have changed or remained the same!
Crystal says
Yay for animal books! ๐ I’ve heard great things about the Babysitter’s Club, though I don’t remember having read any of the books.
I agree; it’s interesting to think about what has remained the same and what has changed in our reading interests! My reading was also more varied as a kid and teen than it is now. When I look back at my books read in 2019, it’s largely dominated by the fantasy genre.
Veronika รles says
I do think my childhood reads, especially my pre-teen reads, reflect my current interest – one of the things I can definitely see is that I loved books with great couples in them (Meg Cabot, for one, I mean, I loved her books for the plot as well, but she was always skilled at creating great couples), and I’ve grown to really adore romances. (I was actually reading romances waaay earlier than I should have been haha.) And fantasy as well – I fell in love with paranormal fantasy, and that’s still something I adore. Great post!
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Crystal says
It’s cool how you childhood reads reflect your current interest. While I don’t read that many romances, it’s always nice to see a strong couple in a book! I think my middle school library had fantasy books with content that wasn’t altogether appropriate for a pre-teen. (And which shocked meโI had loaned a book to my then elementary-school brother when I stumbled upon a somewhat sensual sex scene in the next book. I immediately took book one away from him.) Thanks, Veronika! ๐
Crystal says
Edit: On further reflection, I found that book with the sex scene in high school, and my brother was in middle school – which still wasn’t something I wanted to share with my brother at his age! It taught me to finish a series before sharing it with my brother lol!
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer says
I read everything, and thankfully my parents never stopped me from picking up what interested me. I devoured the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Agatha Christy, Dickens, all the classics, Winnie the Pooh, Tolkien, Narnia. Stephen King, Gone with the Wind, The Thornbirds, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Little House on the Prairie and so many more. I can remember waking to the library by myself every summer beginning in the 3rd grade and checking out oodles of books. I would walk with a big old backpack. I still read everything.
Crystal says
You’ve named so many good books! The only ones I haven’t read are Stephen King and The Thornbirds. I didn’t live close enough a public library to walk to one, but I would frequent the school library so much that the librarians knew me by sight. My high school librarian, who’s a friend of my mom, still remembers how I’d visit the library every morning (mostly to do homework since I got dropped off early, but I’d also look at books). I love the variation of books you share on your blog; it encourages me to look at books outside of the fantasy genre ๐
Sophia Rose says
My reading definitely had a progression through my childhood favorite chapter books to my adult reads, but I was largely influenced by what was available at the library. I started with all things mystery- Nancy Drew, Three Investigators, Trixie Belden, but I was also a big fan of The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, Misty of Chintoteague and other horse stories and the straight classics like Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Treasure Island, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Chronicles of Narnia, Robinson Crusoe, Three Musketeers, etc.
In high school I read Agatha Christie, Louis L’Amour, and finally dipped into romantic suspenses from Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart and Phyllis Whitney. I stuck with historical mystery through my twenties with Peter Tremayne, Anne Perry, , Elizabeth Peters, Margaret Frazier, etc. Then my sister in law introduced me to the young adult genre in my mid thirties and I tried fantasy and urban fantasy for the first time. I’ve become more adventuresome as an adult read and will pick up any genre except most horrors. ๐
Crystal says
It’s neat how you’ve become more adventuresome as an adult reader. I keep telling myself that I want to branch out more, but I have so many fantasy books that I keep buying and not reading because of all the other books on my TBR.
You’ve listed some great books and authors, Sophia! I didn’t list them here, but I also loved Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables growing up. I haven’t read as much mystery since I was in grade school, but I’ve heard great things about Anne Perry.
Denise @ Life With No Plot says
I read so many Nancy Drew books as a kid, and later the Nancy Drew Files series. I loved reading mysteries back then, although I moved more into fantasy later as an adult.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Crystal says
I also loved mystery / adventure as a child. While I’ve always enjoyed a magical read, I’ve been exploring the fantasy genre more as an adult.
Shon @ Books and Bugs says
Riding Freedom was one of my favorite books. It was historical fiction that fed into my horse-loving interests.
Artemis Fowl was great too! I can’t wait for the spin-off series coming out later this year.
Crystal says
It’s neat how books influence our other interests! ๐
I didn’t know a spin-off series for Artemis Fowl was in the works. I’ll have to check it out!
Ethan says
I definitely think I was a more adventurous reader when I was younger. I wasn’t afraid to tackle different genres. Like you, I leaned toward fantasy. As an adult, I tend to read more mystery/thriller novels. Perhaps I should dip my toe into fantasy again!
Crystal says
I feel like I was also a more adventurous reader as a child. It definitely helped that the children’s shelves don’t discriminate by genre, whereas as an adult I tend to go straight for the genre shelves that I know I love. I’m the opposite. I feel like I need to read more mystery/thriller books. I’ve been seeing so many good ones around the blogosphere! If you do read a fantasy book, I’d love to hear your thoughts on one. You write such thoughtful reviews, Ethan.
Dini @ Dinipandareads says
This is a great list of books! Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows broke my heart just as much as Shiloh did (which was on my list) lol Charlie and the Chocolate Factory really set off that spark for magical tales for me.
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Crystal says
Same here. Old Yeller, Shiloh, and Where the Red Fern Grows broke my heart as a child. I don’t know how I missed out on adding Shiloh to my list! (Though if I were to list all the animal books I loved growing up, my list would be too long.) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is such a creative, magical tale! It was one of my first Roald Dahl books ๐
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters says
For me, I always loved romance, even as a middle grader. I loved seeing the boy and girl come together. Just holding hands had me excited at that age ๐ I have changed in some genres though. Because I used to love anything paranormal and fantasy. But now, I’ll read those but not too much. I mostly stick to contemporary romance.
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
Crystal says
It’s cool how romance has been a constant for you in your book loves. Fantasy hasn’t always been a constant for me (particularly when I went through my classics phase), so it’s interesting how I’ve turned back to the fantasy genre in recent years.
Lydia says
I loved Roald Dahl’s books when I was a kid.
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Crystal says
Roald Dahl is a great writer. I love how his books are still popular among children today! ๐